8 replies to this topic

[madu]

Right,

I know this is a dreaded issue and there are more topics on this, but... Clearly not Enough  :?

I was wondering if the unlock code that Orange would provide (for money) is:

- Same for every phone?? (doubt it)
- Linked to IMEI/Serial in any way
- If it is linked to one of those, it there some algorith they use to do that. Like a key generator?? You input phone IMEI and it gives you an unlock code... Would be JOLLY for X-Mas!!!

I am off home (Ukraine) this x-mas and wanna use my lovely SPV with my home SIM which was one of the reasons I went and bought the bugger so early (couldn't wait).

Enough for now. Thanks

[daveng]

I'n not sure about that, but from what I can see I'm not sure the unlock code is calculated from the IMEI code.
If you look at softwares that unlock phones (not the SPV), they all do some kind of scan of the phone memory (though there are a few softwares for Nokia phones that look like keygen).

Plus from what I heard from Orange (but you never really know when these guys know what they're talking about), they have the unlock code from the manufacturer and sometime they lose it (especially with phone sold some time ago), they have to ask the manufacturer for the code, so that would mean that Orange doesn't not have a keygen either.

It could be two different reasons, 1)the manufacturer doesn't release the keygen, or 2)they just store a random unlock code inside the phone and keep a database of this codes. The IMEI code lets them find which unlock code belong to which phone.

I'd say the last  solution would be the better for the manufacturer, cause, without ther databse you can't unlock the phone (unless you crack it and remove the lock process).

BTW, there is a simlock.exe file in the windows directory. Is't written in ROM so you can't read, delete or move it from All-Explorer. From the debug mode, I'm pretty sure you can access to everything, so it should we there that you can find a way to unlock the phone.
I guess you'd have to upload the whole content of the phone and work from there. I don't have a SD card large enough (and I don't have a SD reader for my PC) to save the content of the phone, so I can't try.

If anyone has some though on that I think that would be helpfull on unlocking the phone (and there is an AELock.exe file too, maybe that has something to do with the certification lock...)

[tiger33]

The Orange Subsidy Code which is used to unlock their phones (6 digit code) is a algorithm of the IMEI number

[madu]

Surely then we could start our quest for unlocking right HERE!! I don't know how, but people do figure out algorythms... Hope they do it soon. Didn't htink it would be such a F^&&$G issue when i bought the phone - it seemed like all it takes is 20squid to pay the buggers........ doen't seem so now

[tiger33]

yes there are people who can unlock and calculate the algorithm as someone did it for me with my motorola v70 which i brought from orange a long time ago.


most of them charge a lot of money but i was lucky and he did it for free.


its a shame that operators have to lock their phones but it does make sense. It assures them that u are only spendin money on their network and to be honest their is nothing wrong with that.

the current policy in which u need to owe your phone for 11 months before its unlocks is very fair

[madu]

That's true!! Very true. But by signing a monthly contract, you are already paying for it 25+ squid a month whether u use it or not... and since you have plenty free  minutes it would not be wise not to use your allowance... You already signed up to pay the money they need to subsidise the phone, so what's their problem now?! I only see it useful if  people use more than their free minutes.....

[tiger33]

Its all about making money in the long run.


it would be great if all phones were unlocked from the start. but sadly its not the case anymore. (Vodafone and CELLNET phones never used to be locked to any networks)

[Wildfire]

All pay monthly handsets on the Orange network are subsidised, take for example the SPV, this has a retail of over £400, would you pay that much for it? No i didn't think so, hence the networks subsidise it.
The reason for locking is to ensure that the network get all/most of this money back over the period of the year, at the end of the day they are here to make money so as they can reinvest in newer, better, faster, snazzier handsets that will fuel people desire/obsession for technology.

Regards

Wildfire

[[email protected]]

Quote

The Orange Subsidy Code which is used to unlock their phones (6 digit code) is a algorithm of the IMEI number

The unlock code varies in format depending on the phone model. Nokia DCT4 codes for example are 20 digits long! Also, the code is generated by an algo of the IMEI as you say, but also the MNC+MCC (ie: the network the handset is locked to)

Regards